Surprise!
Vini traveled all the way to Brazil to pop the question. Sophia said yes. They're getting married in March.
Our most recent Art of Marriage group just wrapped up. Here's the recap from one couple...
Jim and Angie were so encouraging and hospitable. When we signed up for the class, we knew we were adding quite a bit to our schedules. However, we didn't anticipate how busy we would be and it soon grew overwhelming. Still we agreed to stick this out and remain committed to the class.
God didn't disappoint. He met us and has grown our marriage already. We pray that He would continue to bear fruit from our experience in this class so that others might see a marriage filled with His grace and truth and be drawn to Christ. We also pray that God would use what we've learned to give us wisdom on how to remain close to one another in the midst of trials.
How to remain close in the middle of a trial.
Despite how hard Mondays and Tuesdays have been for us over the past month and a half, we are so grateful that we stuck with this class. It was truly a blessing to grow alongside those who are newer to marriage and those who have been married for many years.
Congratulations Israel and Bethany.
Thank you to all who helped make their wedding beautiful.
We sent some of our best leaders to the Sovereign Grace Pastors Conference last month. Here are a few of their reflections...
Roger: The thing that impacted me the most during the conference was a constant realization that God has given to us pastors and leaders who take their call to preach and care for the flock very seriously, and God LOVES to care for these men! The time spent amongst these men of God gave me such a greater appreciation for the sacrifices they make for us week in and week out! Now I know first hand why our pastors say this is by far their favorite conference to go to. It was so good to see and experience God’s grace as He met us during every session. Whether it was a prophetic word spoken by a pastor during worship, a prophetic word sang by Bob Kauflin, or a pastor preaching God’s Word, the grace and sufficiency of Christ was known and felt by everyone!
Jeff: The rich fellowship experienced at the conference continues to resonate with me. It was wonderful to be surrounded by men who care deeply for the things of God and especially to by the men of our church. I was overjoyed to attend and to so quickly be invited into the fellowship of our church leaders and other like-minded young men who are eager for ministry. I will not forget our dinner table discussions, late night talks, or singing along to "All Glory Be To Christ" with tears in my eyes alongside you all.
Omar: One speaker said "We must envision ourselves, sowing seeds till our final breath." When I heard this I felt like a soldier, listening to a general preparing for war. Tears were in my eyes as a conviction grew in my heart. I want to be part of the preaching of the gospel. Sowing, sowing, sowing regardless of my circumstances.
This past Sunday we were introduced to a family headed to Thailand this winter. They plan to work there long-term in conjunction with Sovereign Grace Churches and Pioneers with the goal of reaching the lost and establishing local churches.
This family is actually a part of a larger team. Three different families from three different sister churches. A team of like-minded households leaving everything here to answer the call to go there.
If you would like to follow their story or even contribute financially, contact Pastor Eric. He will pass along their information.
Work is underway on a new video to tell the story of God's work among us.
It's easy to forget that every year parents across our nation and around the world send their children to our neighborhood. Here's the impression of one mother this Fall...
When you’re sending your child to college in California — in one of America’s most-populated counties — it brings a Southern mama some comfort to leave her youngest in a college town that’s reminiscent of the South... Read more.